cruisemom42

As promised, a few photos from Flåm. It was my favorite port. Adorable small town and easy to take the railway on your own—if you’re willing to buy tickets well in advance. 

2 hours ago, slidergirl said:

I did a little sleuthing on Cynthia.  She's around on a few other forums.  So, she might be busy with cruise stuff.  I was getting worried.

Kudos to slidergirl for the reminder. I keep meaning to post, but I just haven't been on the site as much as I was before. I have to admit to feeling a bit blue/out of sorts since my dad passed in June. I feel more like reading than being online. 

That said, I did have a nice cruise to the Norwegian fjords in August, so yes I was awol for about 2 weeks. It was beautiful and I enjoyed it very much. The best was our day in Flam, Norway, in part because it was beautiful weather. Took the little train ride up the mountain and back. I'll try to post a few pics soon.

I enjoyed reading @slidergirl's Vegas posts too. EggSlut -- love it, especially the sign. 🤣

I'll catch myself up on everyone's posts and try to keep up better. With fall around the corner, I feel better. The long hot summer here is nearly over and fall has always been my favorite season.

It would be between Nautical & Classic (the survey says "classic" not "classy"...) and Arty & Sophisticated.

Either is fine with me, but I will point out that on at least one line I've been on, the desire to go Arty & Sophisticated has led to some uncomfortable seating options...form over function. I'm NOT a fan of that. I like ships with lots of comfortable places to sit and read, watch entertainment, people watch, socialize, etc. Not a big fan of feeling like a pretzel while sitting.

Just now, zqvol said:

Never seen the canal from the top, but our cruise ship did transit it. I put it up there with a trip through the Panama Canal. (Yes, there are a couple of cruise lines with small ships that contrast the canal. We were on Sea Dream). 

Voyages to Antiquity's small ship kept promising transits through the canal on various cruises, but somehow they never seemed to pan out. Rockslides, work closures...  You were lucky!  I'd love to do it.

On 9/12/2024 at 3:42 PM, Hambagahle said:

Have stayed at all you mention...  Beverly Hills is a but alternative...  however I far prefer sleek modern design with no clutter.  "Scandi" if you like !   "One man's meat is another man's poison" sort of thing I suppose.  

I think it's nicer when the interior remains true to the period.

Do you just want to "see" the canal or do you want to take a tour "on" the canal? Both are possible. Some cruise ships even offer an excursion for the latter. I'm guessing a private operator could also possibly arrange the latter as well. 

I've been on a couple of private tours from Piraeus that stopped at the bridge for a good view of the canal enroute to other places.

Just tell the hotel you want a taxi at 6:00 am. They will arrange it. I've done this multiple times from this hotel.

Edited to add: Just be forewarned that if you do this, you will end up paying slightly more than the set fare to airport, as the taxi will also charge you whatever it cost for them to get to you at hotel. Usually a small addition.

4 minutes ago, CissyFuss said:

I've just learnt today that we will be cruising from Fusina instead of Chioggia, with Azamara.  Hoping you can share how you managed to get to the port and board your ship.

What I guessed was how it happened. Azamara had everyone check in, hand in luggage, etc. at the Marittima port (the one reached via the People Mover, close to Piazzale Roma). From there, everyone was bussed by motorcoach to Fusina for boarding. 

It was pretty efficient; obviously would only work for a small ship.

23 minutes ago, POA1 said:

They probably DID use spellcheck. "Maine" often gets corrected to Main.

 

This helps to differentiate it from "Emergency Backup" Lobster. (Still a surcharge, but requires 2 D Cell Batteries.)

Or maybe they're just hedging their bets. As in, it's mainly Maine lobster, but there's no guarantee....

On 8/27/2024 at 1:47 PM, sushraya said:

We will be in Salerno on a Sunday.   We are currently thinking of taking a ferry to either Amalfi or Positano.   Can anyone recommend a good place for a Sunday brunch (or early lunch) in either Amalfi or Positano?   Another option would be for us to come back and have lunch in Salerno - so if there any good recommendations for lunch in Salerno, that would work too.

 

Some of the folks in our group are vegetarian (no meat, seafood)  - a good place with pasta/pizza with buffalo mozzarella would work well!

Brunch is a meal that hasn't become popular in Italy. I don't think you'd have much luck with finding one. Possibly a large hotel might offer an "American style" breakfast but I think that's usually only for their guests.

In the same vein, you're unlikely to find good restaurants open before noon for lunch. 

For me, the "idea" of Venice is almost better than the reality of it, but everyone should see it once. It's even better if one has some of the history in mind (read in advance) and also has read some of the many novels set there. 

Do expect crowds, even off-season. I was there with my son a few years ago (just before Covid) and even in late November the crowds were crazy in Venice.

I've stayed twice at this hotel and agree it's a good option. Their deluxe single rooms are larger than many city single rooms. And their breakfast is also a step above many, though one should not expect it to be a full American-style one.

The location near the Pantheon has been my favorite for years.

Last night we had a performance by Chordial, which seems to be HAL’s new traveling classical trio (piano, violin, cello). They performed on the main theatre stage. They were fairly good. Not LCS caliber and a trio rather than a quartet, but much better than some performers I’ve heard on other ships. They will do a second show tomorrow night, I believe.

I went to the Morimoto’s by Sea pop/up last night held in Tamarind. While I enjoyed it, I’m not sure the hefty extra cost is entirely justified. 
 

I ordered the pork gyoza, angry lobster pad Thai (which I enjoyed, I know some have not) and the melting chocolate sphere. Pics below.

Flåm was such a highlight of this cruise. Partly due to the weather no doubt.

Just to add info for the DIYers, the Flåmsbana (train) is super easy to do on your own. The rail station is only a couple of blocks from the ship, no possible way of getting lost. I purchase my ticket online back when the 2024 schedule was first announced so you do have to plan ahead. The cost for the return trip is about $70 US (return) per person. 
 

I enjoyed staying at Hotel New York, the old HAL headquarters bldg and a 2 block walk to port. 
 

Some photos of the hotel and the restaurant which had old ship models and an idea for use of HAL Tiles.

Sail-out photos of the old Rotterdam. There was a battle of toots between the old and new Rotterdams. I loved it! (The old one got the last word).

I'm leaving today from ATL to AMS for the same cruise. I'll be taking the train as well, glad to hear it was easy.

Looking forward to seeing you onboard!

1 hour ago, terrydtx said:

Not my idea of a vacation 13 nights in a windowless cave. 🤑

A windowless cave is fine for sleeping and dressing and truthfully that's about all I use a cabin for. 

Everyone's different...

14 minutes ago, Hlitner said:

We do know you of your love of history and historic places, so no surprise with your post.  Think of the cruise to the Fjords as a real vacation LOL.  DW actually enjoys that kind of itinerary since it means easy days :).  When we are in the places where there are historic sites, I have been known to drag her more than 10 miles (walking) in a port day.  If you manage to get to Oslo, you will find some things of interest in that city.

 

Hank

I hear you about Oslo, but I'm gnashing my teeth that the Viking Ship museum is closed for renovation....

🤬

@edinburgher I was trying to find the post where we were discussing the Roman armor (arm guard) recently reassembled, which was found in Scotland. Just wanted to let you know I saw it in the exhibition on Life in the Roman Army at the British Museum in June.

The real show stopper for me was a piece on loan from Yale, the only known complete and painted Roman cylindrical shield (scutum) from Syria. I’ve never seen anything like it, and I’ve seen lots of Roman gear! Took a couple of pics. Really worth the price of admission. The paint is all original. 
 

On 7/29/2024 at 6:36 AM, edinburgher said:

 

A small PS to that post as I should have added ICELAND to it, and that is a shame as Iceland has many unique natural sites/sights found nowhere else in the world which you would miss unless you choose to go for these experiences but avoid the huge waterfalls of Godafoss and Gullfoss.

On 7/30/2024 at 10:04 AM, Hlitner said:

I get the disinterest in beaches (we happen to be beach lovers) but am puzzled by a disinterest in waterfalls!  My first thought, when I saw that, was cruising through Prince Christiansund and seeing some of the gorgeous waterfalls.  In fact, many Captains, when going through this area, will actually do a 360 degree turn when they encounter some of these waterfalls.

 

Hank

I'd have to put myself in the camp that just doesn't get much out of natural scenery. I don't necessarily avoid it -- I've been to Iceland and Greenland, Alaska, Hawaii, a fair amount of the SW US, etc. And I'm leaving for a cruise to the Norwegian fjords next week -- but it just doesn't pull me in the way ancient history does. I prefer to look at all the wonders that human hands have made throughout history.

I can't think of a single beach or waterfall that can compare with something like the Pantheon in Rome or the Pont du Gard (Roman aqueduct) outside Nimes, or some of the Greek sculpture I've seen, or the magnificent carved gems and cameos made during the Imperial Roman era, or....  Well, you get the picture.

16 hours ago, Hlitner said:

Cruisemom, the last time we were in Bergen (just prior to COVID) we did dock at that terminal and taxis were very scarce.  We walked into town (and later back to the port) but I do realize that is not a good solution to going to Grieg's House.   This might be a case where Uber is your best friend.  Otherwise, if no taxis at the port you would have little choice but to walk towards the center of town and hope to spot a taxi.

 

Hope all is well and good to see you are still on the move :).

 

Hank

Hi Hank -- yeah, sounds like Uber is the way to go. 😉 

I'm sure you'll appreciate this: I had signed up for a HAL excursion to do this, trying to use up my shorex credit for HIA package. Now HAL has canceled that excursion, no reason given. 🤬

@Turtles06  I will be in Bergen in about a month on HAL Rotterdam. I was hoping you could tell me whether you noticed taxis available at the Jektevik cruise terminal. I plan on going to the home of Grieg and have a ticket for their mid-day concert. Seems it's about 16 minutes by taxi and the Hurtigruten site says there is a taxi stand. 

Any info you could add would be most appreciated. I could reserve one in advance but it will cost more....

13 hours ago, Lois R said:

Hi Cynthia, welcome home and glad you had such a good time😃 sounds like everything went well!

So sorry about your teeth and hope all goes ok going forward. How is your Mom doing?

 

My mom is struggling with accepting his death. She's got dementia and unfortunately, my dad's presence helped keep her tethered to reality. It's sad, but in some ways maybe it's better if she "forgets" at times that he's gone.

12 hours ago, slidergirl said:

I know all about a "too small" mouth.  When I was a kid, we had one dentist in town.  When my permanent teeth started to come in, he said my mouth was too small for all of them, so he yanked the first molar that came in on the bottom.  Never noticed a problem without it all these years!  

Ack. Yeah, every dentist has told me how my mouth is so small that it's difficult for them to work with me. When I was a kid, my orthodontist wanted to extract two teeth when putting on braces to give him "room" to position my teeth. My parents said no way.